Located in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona, Camelback High School isn’t just a place to learn; it’s a community where students thrive. The school provides a variety of sports, clubs, and dual enrollment courses to enrich the education experiences of its more than 2,200 students.
However, despite having a solid safety team and student support services, Camelback High School was also experiencing low student accountability and a high number of disciplinary referrals. Head Principal, James Arndt, knew something had to change.
A Digital Hall Pass Provides Visibility and Transparency into Student Movement, says Camelback High School
James had heard positive feedback from colleagues at another school about their new digital hall pass system, Securly Pass. He and his team made a visit to the school to see the solution in action, and they immediately bought in.
“When we saw the Securly Pass dashboard showing every student with a hall pass and where they were going, we were like, ‘Oh my God! This is the Holy Grail!’”
The team returned to Camelback High School with a clear mission: to choose a digital hall pass of their own. They explored a few other options, including the free digital hall pass included with their SIS, but quickly ruled them out. James explains that the team felt most confident going with Securly Pass because of Securly’s solid foundation in K-12 student safety.
Student Referrals Decrease by 70% after Implementing a Digital Hall Pass
James shares that the impact Securly Pass has made on Camelback High School’s culture is nothing short of remarkable. Comparing data from the semester before implementation to the semester following implementation, James found that student referrals had gone down from 858 to a mere 290.
While gaining teacher buy-in for a digital hall pass was easy, some students unsurprisingly expressed complaints about the new system. However, James says that his staff have used students’ pushback as a springboard for constructive conversations, explaining, “You can have a much better dialogue, not just with teachers but with students. Because of Securly Pass, we have the data available. So, sure, some teenagers hate it, but for many others, it’s become a very nice and mature conversation.”
Since switching to a digital hall pass, Camelback High School is enjoying a more focused and accountable learning environment. The staff and teachers are also happier now that they no longer have the administrative burden of managing so many student disciplinary issues.
“There’s a higher accountability around staying in class and learning now, and that’s a positive feedback loop. The more kids are in class, the more they’re interested in class. And the more they’re interested in class, the more likely they are to learn. The more likely they are to learn, the more likely they are to stay in class.”
James Arndt, Head Principal, Camelback High School
Increase Student Safety and Accountability with Securly Pass
Implementing Securly Pass has transformed Camelback High School’s culture and climate for the better. Other schools who’ve made the switch to a digital hall pass are experiencing equally impressive outcomes.
Ready to learn more about a digital hall pass? Here are some resources to help:
- 5 Ways Digital Hall Passes Benefit K-12 Schools | Blog
- Introduction to Securly Pass | Video Explainer
- How to Know if a Digital Hall Pass is Right for Your School | Blog
Want to experience Securly Pass for yourself? Schedule a no-obligation demo.
